Former State Employee And Three Others Indicted For $1 Million COVID-19 Fraud Scheme

Summary

A press release of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Michigan, dated Friday, November 18, 2022, announcing a 33-count indictment of Adelita Castillo Juarez, Francisca Adelita Juarez, Evelyn De-Maya Vanderbilt and Mya Michelle Giordano. The indictment alleges that between May 2020 and January 2022 the co-defendants conspired to commit and committed wire fraud by filing fraudulent unemployment claims in Michigan and elsewhere, stealing at least $1,053,401. According to the release, Adelita Juarez was an Unemployment Insurance Examiner for the State of Michigan and allegedly processed the claims, including by clearing fraud notices. Vanderbilt is separately charged with wire fraud for allegedly defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program and a lender of $41,666.

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                                       Department of Justice
                                         U.S. Attorney’s Office
                                     Western District of Michigan


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                       Friday, November 18, 2022

  Former State Employee And Three Others Indicted For $1
             Million COVID-19 Fraud Scheme
      GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney Mark Totten announced today that Adelita
Castillo Juarez, age 55, of Kent City, Francisca Adelita Juarez, age 35, of Kent City, Evelyn De-Maya
Vanderbilt, formerly known as Kwamaine Dejaun Trice, age 32, of Grand Rapids and Inkster, and
Mya Michelle Giordano, formerly known as Mark Anthony Hall, age 42, of Norfolk, Virginia, were
indicted by a federal grand jury with various crimes related to a fraudulent scheme to obtain state
and federal benefits provided in part in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. The indictment
alleges that the co-defendants stole at least $1,053,401.

     “Corruption is a rot we must eliminate,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “One of my
highest priorities is the investigation and prosecution of criminal conduct by public officials. We will
identify and prosecute government employees that steal taxpayer dollars. And pandemic fraud,
whether committed by public employees or private citizens, will remain a priority for my office.”

      The 33-count indictment alleges that between May 2020 and January 2022, the four co-
defendants conspired to commit wire fraud, and in fact committed wire fraud, by filing fraudulent
unemployment claims in Michigan and elsewhere. The claims involved in the case were allegedly for
claimants who were ineligible for benefits, for example because they did not have Michigan income
or reside in Michigan. Adelita Juarez was employed as an Unemployment Insurance Examiner by
the State of Michigan during the relevant time period, and allegedly processed the claims to ensure
they would be paid, including by clearing fraud notices. Her daughter, Francisca Juarez, allegedly
received kickbacks in connection with the payment of the fraudulent claims. The remaining co-
defendants, Vanderbilt and Giordano, allegedly obtained the personally identifiable information of
the claimants, aided in the submission of the claims, and received some or all of the proceeds of the
claims. The proceeds of the scheme were allegedly funded in part by the Pandemic Unemployment
Assistance, Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, and Lost Wages Assistance programs. The
indictment alleges that the co-defendants stole at least $1,053,401.

     “An important mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations involving
unemployment insurance fraud. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to
investigate these types of allegations,” stated Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Chicago
Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (“DOL-OIG”).

     “I’m proud of the continued success our Agency’s investigators have demonstrated in
protecting the integrity of Michigan’s unemployment benefits system,” said Michigan
Unemployment Insurance Agency (“UIA”) Director Julia Dale. “We have zero tolerance for
anyone within our Agency or any outside bad actors who try to scam the system designed to help
workers who have lost their jobs. Our team won’t rest until those who steal from taxpayers are
brought to justice.”

     In addition to conspiracy and wire fraud, the defendants are charged with theft of public
money. Adelita and Francisca Juarez, and Vanderbilt, are charged with disaster fraud. Adelita
Juarez is charged with federal program theft. Vanderbilt and Giordano are charged with several
counts of aggravated identity theft each. Finally, Vanderbilt is separately charged with wire fraud for
allegedly defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program and a lender of $41,666.

      The charges in an indictment are merely accusations and are not evidence of guilt. The
defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The government
has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. A conviction for conspiracy to commit
wire fraud, or wire fraud, in connection with a declared major disaster or national emergency is
subject to a prison term of up to 30 years and a fine of up to $1,000,000, among other penalties. A
conviction for aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory prison term of two years, to be served
consecutively to any other sentence imposed.

     DOL-OIG, the UIA-Fraud Investigations Unit, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax
Administration, and the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, are
investigating the case. Other law enforcement agencies that have provided assistance include the
Michigan State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Secret Service, the Kent County
Sheriff’s Department, the Walker Police Department, and the Norfolk Police Department. Assistant
U.S. Attorney Justin M. Presant is prosecuting the matter. The case was assigned to the Honorable
Paul L. Maloney, United States District Judge.

                                                 ###
Topic(s):                                              Component(s):
Public Corruption                                      USAO - Michigan, Western
Financial Fraud


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